Bilt Blue vs Bilt Obsidian
Side-by-side comparison
| Bilt Blue | Bilt Obsidian | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $95 |
| Welcome offer | $100 in Bilt Cash on account opening | $200 in Bilt Cash on account opening |
| Dining | 1x | 3x |
| Groceries | 1x | 3x |
| Gas | 1x | 1x |
| Travel | 2x | 2x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $310 | $490 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Mastercard | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified September 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | Bilt Blue | Bilt Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $100 in Bilt Cash on account opening | $200 in Bilt Cash on account opening |
| To earn it | No minimum spend | No minimum spend |
| Est. first-year value* | $510 | $895 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $410 | $695 |
The Bilt Obsidian wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | Bilt Blue | Bilt Obsidian |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | ~$100/yr (1 credits) | ~$300/yr (2 credits) |
| Points & redemptions | Transferable to airline & hotel partners | Transferable to airline & hotel partners |
On perks and redemptions, the Bilt Obsidian carries the heavier credit stack (about $300 a year). Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Both cards earn Bilt Rewards, so they transfer to the identical partners at the same ratios, headlined by Alaska / Atmos, Air Canada, World of Hyatt, American Airlines, and Turkish. On transfers there is no difference between them; the choice comes down to earning and perks, not where the points can go.
This is a tier choice inside Bilt: both earn points on rent and transfer to the same partners; the Obsidian just earns more on dining and groceries for a fee.
The Blue is the free way into Bilt, rent points and 2x travel with nothing to justify. The Obsidian steps up to 3x dining and 3x groceries, which pays off if you spend enough there to beat the $95 fee. Free-and-simple vs more-earning-for-a-fee.
Pros and cons
- Points on rent and 2x travel with no annual fee
- Transfers to the same strong Bilt partners
- Nothing to justify
- The easy Bilt starting point
- Only 1x on dining and groceries
- No premium perks
- Smaller welcome package
- 3x on dining and 3x on groceries, plus rent and 2x travel
- A larger welcome package
- Same transfer partners as the Blue
- Better for active dining/grocery spenders
- $95 fee to justify
- Rent still earns at 1x (points, no multiplier)
- Only worth it above a spending threshold
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dining & groceries | Bilt Obsidian | 3x vs the Blue’s 1x. |
| Rent & travel | Tie | Both earn rent points and 2x travel. |
| Annual fee | Bilt Blue | $0 vs $95. |
| Transfer partners | Tie | Same Bilt partner list. |
| Best for | Depends | Light spenders vs active dining/grocery spenders. |
The verdict
If you mainly want to earn points on rent and keep it free, the Bilt Blue is the right tier, it captures Bilt’s signature rent benefit and transfers to the same partners, at no cost. For a renter who doesn’t spend heavily on dining and groceries, there’s no reason to pay for more.
If you spend meaningfully on dining and groceries, the Obsidian’s 3x in both quickly clears its $95 fee and earns far more than the Blue, on top of the same rent and transfer benefits. The rule of thumb: if your combined dining-and-grocery spend earns more than $95 in extra points at 3x versus 1x, the Obsidian wins; otherwise, stay on the free Blue.